Desiccating and collecting apparatus.



I. S. MERRELL. DESIOGATING AND COLLECTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29, 1911.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I. S. MERRELL.

DBSIGGATING AND COLLECTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 111911.29, 1911.

1,088,436. Patented Feb. 24, 1914,

' BSHBBTB-SHEBT 2. I1 E3 w c1 [TM-neg I. S. MERRELL.

DBSIGOATING AND COLLECTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1911.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

6 SHEBTS-8HEET 3.

I. S. MERRELL. DESIOGATING AND COLLECTING APPARATUS.

1,088,436. Patented Feb. 24, 191 1 5 SHEETS-BHEET 4.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1911.

I. S.- MBRRELL.

DESIOUATING AND COLLECTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.29, 1911.

1,088,436. Patented Feb. 24, 1914,

6 SHEETS-'SHEET 5.

A x a 34 Sw m/MM UNITED STATES PQTENT OFFICE,

IRVING S. MERRELL, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERRELL-SOULE COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DESICCATING AND COLLECTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

Application filed. April 29, 1911. Serial No. 624,202.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IRVING S. MEnnnLL, of Syracuse, Onondaga county, New York, have invented a new Desiccating and Collecting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in collectors for the finely divided solids obtained by desiccation, and, while capable of general employment, is particularly designed for use in connection with apparatus for separating in powdered form the con stituent solids from the moisture of complex organic substances, such as milk, eggs, etc., a type of such apparatus being illustrated in United States Patent No. 860,929, granted July 23, 1907, to L. G. Merrell, W. B. Gere, and myself.

In the separation of solids as contemplated by the patent above referred to, and especially in the case of milk powder, it is important that the elements of the resultant powder shall be thoroughly mixed to insure uniformity throughout the mass recovered; in other words, particles of different specific gravity and of different volume should be distributed uniformly throughout the mass so as to preclude one portion of the mass being made up almost wholly of particles of one specific gravity or size, while other portions of the mass are constituted almost entirely by particles either lighter or heavier or of different size. For example, in the treatment of eggs, the powder recovered should be such as to retain the solid ele ments of both the yolks and whites in proper proportion, and not distributed separately or variably throughout the mass, thus insuring uniformity to the product, and enabling the same to be packaged without liability of variation in the contents of the packages. Likewise, in the case of milk, the butter fat and the heavy solids should be uniformly distributed'in substantially the proportions which they bear in the milk as it comes from the cow.

It is, therefore, the main and primary objcct of the present invention to provide a collector which in connection with the desiccatiug chamber will recover effectually the constituent solids of liquids, the solids being distributed in uniform relation, and insuring proper mixture in the mass.

Furthermore, the invention aims to provide a construction of collector which is small, simple and easy to operate, and which will permit the powder, properly mixed with that falling in the desiccating chamber, to be readily collected at a single place through the agency of but a single instrumentality.

Havin these general objects in view, and others ndiich will appear as the nature of the lmprovements is better understood, the invention consists substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawingsFigure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a dust collector constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invent-ion, the plane of section being on the line 11, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a vertical trans verse sectional view thereof on the line 22, Fig. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, the desiccating chamber being partially broken away. Fig. t is a sectional plan view on the line 4-4, Fig.- 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5, Fig. 2. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail elevations of the jogging mechanism for the bolting sleeves. Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views illustratmg a cycle of operations of the air valves through a predetermined period.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, 1 is a reservoir for receiving the liquid to be treated. This liquid miiy be taken either from a concentrating chamber (not shown), in which event the liquid would be drawn through a pipe 2 connected to the concentrator, and forced into the reservoir 1 by means of a pump 3, or said liquid may be taken from a dialyzing-vat 4., which vat is connected by a pipe 5 to the reservoir 1, and elevated at such a point as to feed the contents to the reservoir by gravity. The reservoir 1 is connected by a valved pipe 6 to a spray device 7, and said device discharges through an opening 8 formed in one wall of a desiccating chamber 9. A pump 10 is connected to the spray device 7 for supplying the latter with air undcr pressure, thereby breaking up the liquid into a fine spray as it discharges into the dosiccating chamber 9, and said pump is also connected to a heating chamber 11 which is designed to raise the temperature of the aiil after it passes the pump. The

flue 12, which is in communication with a heating chamber 13, the latter also being connected to a pressure device 14, such as a fan blower, discharges into the opening 8 of the desiccating chamber 9, and conveys in large volume to the latter the desiccating agent, which may be atmosphere, air or other gaseous moisture absorbing medium included hereinafter by the term air.

The foregoing construction is generally similar to the apparatus shown in United States Patent No. 860,929, previously mentioned, but this construction forms no part of the novelty of the present invention, which resides in a novel form of collector for recovering the powder resulting from the desiccation of the liquid being treated, and in the relation which said collector bears to the desiccating chamber. As a convenient embodiment of the present invention, the desiccating chamber 9 is divided at one of its ends into a pair of bolting chambers 15 and 16, (Fig. which chambers have openings at their lower ends, as illustrated in Figs. 1, and 2, and thereby communicate with the interior of the desiccating chamber 9. Spaced vertical Walls 17, between which is arranged a horizontal diaphragm or septum 18, (Figs. 1, 2, and 1) provide laterally-disposed air chambers 19 and 20 beneath the diaphragm or septum 18, said chambers communicating, respectively, with the bolting chambers 15 and 16. Above the diaphragm or septum 18 an air outlet chamber 21 is provided, and said chamber communicates, through a pipe 22, with an eXhauster 23, such as a suction fan. The diaphragm 18 is provided with a pair of openings 2% and 25, (Figs. -1and 9) the former being arranged over the air chamber 19, and the latter over the chamber 20, and these openings are closed by air valves 26 and 27, respectively, said valves seating upon th diaphragm, and cutting off communication periodically between the air chambers 19 and 20 and the outlet chamber 21.

)Vhile the bolting chambers communicate with the interior of the desiccating chamber 9, such communication is afforded only through a plurality of openings 28 arranged in the bottoms of said chambers, and surrounding each of said openings 28, and extending throughout the height of the bolting chamber, is a shaking screening or bolting sleeve 29, formed of bolting cloth or other material adapted for this purpose. The upper end of each sleeve 29 is supported and closed, and the function of these sleeves is to effect separation of the powder from the air, as will appear more fully hereinafter. The interior of each sleeve is in constant commm'iication through its open bottom with the desiccating chamber 9.

An oscillatory vertical shaft 30 (Figs. 2,

4, and 5) is arranged between the group of bolting sleeves 29 of each of the bolting chambers. each of said shafts being provided with a radially-arranged series of agitating or shaking rings 31, and said rings are suitably connected to the shafts 3 and respond to the oscillatory movement thereof, as indicated at the right in Fig. One of these rings is provided for each of the bolting sleeves 29 and exteriorly surrounds the same, and, hence, as the rings 31 vibrate under the movement of the shafts 30, the bolting sleeves will be shaken, and any pow der adhering thereto will be freed from the sleeves and will gravitate to the bottom of the chamber 9.

The air valves 26 and 27 are provided with elongated stems 32 and 33, (Figs. 1, 2 and 9) said stems projecting through the .top of the outlet chamber 21, and being surrounded at their upper ends by coiled springs 31 which act to lift the valves 26 and 27. These springs, therefore, tend to unseat the valves 26 and 27. The upper end of each of the stems 32 and 33 is also provided with av contact roller 35, each roller engaging a suitable actuating cam as will presently appear.

At the exterior of the chamber 9 is arranged a power shaft 36, (Figs. 2 and 3) the same deriving motion from any suitable source, and said power shaft is connected, through intermediate gearing 37, with a master gear 38 carried by a driving shaft 39. Mounted upon the shaft 39 are two cams it) and 41, (Figs. 1, and 9) the cam 40 engaging the contact roller 35 of the valve 27, and the cam 41 engaging the corresponding roller of the valve 26. These cams project from the shaft 39 in diametrically opposite directions, and in the opera tion of the driving shaft 39 said cams will actuate their respective valves at different periods. Consequently, the time of closing the valve 26 is different from the time of closing the valve 27, and the flow of air from the two bolting chambers 15 and 16, therefore, will be interrupted at differenttimes.

Each roup of bolting sleeves is shaken during the time when the corresponding valve 20 or 27 is closed, and to the accom plishment of this end mechanism is provided to cause the appropriate shaft30 to oscillate at such time. The illustrated mechanism comprises a mutilated gear 12 (Fig. 3) carried by the shaft 39. approximately only mic-quarter of the circumference of this gear being provided with teeth, (Fig. 9) and said gear 12 meshes with a pinion 121 carried by a jack shaft 41, said shaft having a spur gear -15 which meshes with a pinion 16 carried by a jogging shaft 47. l-\rranged upon the jogging shaft all is a jogging wheel 4-3. in the form of a sinuous cam, (Fig. 2) which jogging wheel has a rolling contact with a bell-crank lever 49 held normally in contact with the wheel 48, by a spring 50, (Fig. (3). The bellcrank lever 4.9 is connected to a link 51, the latter being also connected to a crank 52 carried by the oscillatory shaft 30 of the bolting chamber 16. A mutilated gear 58 (Fig. 3) is also carried by the shaft 39, approximately only one-quarter of the circumference of this gear being provided with teeth, (Fig. 9) and this gear meshes with a pinion 54: carried by a jack shaft 55, said shaft having a spur gear 56 which meshes with a pinion 57 carried by a jogging shaft 58. This shaft 58 also carries a jogging wheel 59 having a sinuous cam groove 60, (Fig. 8) a bell-crank (51 being operatively connected to the groove 60 of the wheel 59, and said bell-crank 61 is connected to a link 62, the latter being also connected to a crank 63 carried by the oscil latory shaft 30 of the other bolting chamber 15. It is to be observed (Fig. 9) that the teeth of the mutilated gears et2 and 53.are arranged in diametrically opposite relation, so that when one of these gears is actuating its jogging wheel, the jogging wheel of the other gear is at rest. Hence it will be seen that this construction causes the shaking of the group of bolting sleeves of one of the bolting chambers at a time when the bolting sleeves of the other chamber are at rest, and this shaking of the bolting sleeves of each chamber is timed to occur when its valve 26 or 27 is in its closed position, and hence when there is no flow of air through the shaken sleeves.

Arranged within the lower desiccating chamber 9, and

end of the extending throughout the length thereof, is an endless chain conveyer Get, the same being provided with scraper bars 65, and said bars travel along the bottom of the chamber 9, forcing the precipitated powdered product in advance of the same, and depositing said prod uct in the trough 66 of a screw conveyer 67, through the medium of which latter the powder is discharged from the chamber 9, through the discharge outlet 68. which is throttled by a leather flap (59, which stops outliow of air. 'lhe conveyer (it may be operated in any suitable manner.

In the operation of the herein-described collector, the liquid is sprayed into the desiccating chamber 9, where separation of the constituent solids from the moisture takes place, and a portion of said solids, in the form of powder, gravitate to the bottom of said chamber. Motion being imparted to the power shaft. so, the driving shaft 39 is given continuous rotation, thereby causing rotation of the cams 40 and +1, and also of the mutilated gears 42 and 53. The engagement of the cam :l-O with the stem of the valve 27 depresses said valve against the comes seated to close the opening 25 controlled thereby. The suction fan 23, in aid of the blower 14, acts to draw the air from the chamber 9, and said air, charged with the lighter particles of the powder, passes through the bolting sleeves 29, out through the openings 24 and 25, when the respective valves 26 and 2? are open, and through the pipe 22, the powder, however, being caught by the sleeves 29. \Vhen, however, one of the valves, say the valve 27, has become seated, the flow of the air from the corresponding bolting chamber 16 is immediately interrupted. Pressure conditions on the eX- terior of the bolting sleeves 29 of the chamber 16 now become equalized with the pressure conditions within said sleeves, and the latter lrang limp. Immediately upoirclosing the valve 27, the mutilated gear 42 actuates, through the intermediate gear connections, the jogging wheel 48, and this imparts to the shaft 30 within the chamber 16 a series of quick oscillations or vibrations, whereupon the rings 31 act upon their respective sleeves 29 to shake the latter, and thereby free the sleeves of the powder deposited upon the interior thereof. The powder so disengaged drops to the bottom of the chamber 9, and in the movement of the conveyer 64 is passed to the conveyer 67, and discharged thereby from the chamber. Simultaneously with the disengagement of the cam 40 from the stem of the valve 27, the teeth of the gear 4L2 become disengaged from the teeth of the pinion 43, and as the valve 27 opens the shaking of the bolting sleeves 29 of the chamber 16 ceases. The operation of the valve 26 and the bolting sleeves 29 of the other bolting chamber 15 is similar to the operation just described, but, by reason of the timing of the movement of the cam 41, the mutilated gear 53, and the gear connections between the latter and the jogging wheel 59, the sleeves 29 of the chamber 15 are shaken at a different period from the shaking of the sleeves 29 of the chamber 16. Hence, the shaking of the sleeves of the respective chambers occurs in alternate succession, and likewise the closing of the valves 26 and 27.

In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 is illustrated a cycle of operations of the valves 26 and 27, the latter, the cams controlling the same, and the mutilated gears which operate the jogging mechanism of the bolting sleeves being shown.diagrammatically. The cycle illustrated vin the figures in question (overs a period of one minute, and each of the \i-ews illustrates the position of the valves during a periodof fifteen seconds. in Fig. 9, therefore. whiclrcovers the first quarter of the minute, the valves 26 and 27 are both open. The air is discharging through these valves fronrthc air chambers 19 and 20 into the outtension of its spring 34, and said valve be-. let chamber 21, and the powder which passes up into the sleeves 29 with the air is being caught by both groups of bolting sleeves. In Fig. 10 the valve 26 is still open, but the valve 27 is closed, the position of the valves in Fig. 10 being that assumed by them during the second quarter of the minute. lVith the valve '27 closed, the flow of air through the'bolting chamber 16 is interrupted, and the sleeves 29 of that chamber are being shaken, but the air is still passing from the chamber 15 into the outlet chamber 21, and separation of the powder from the air is being effected by the sleeves 29 of the chamber 15. In Fig. 11, which covers the third quarter of the minute, the valve 27 again has become opened, so that there is no interruption to the passage of the air from the desiccating chamber through both of the bolting chambers, and separation of the powder is being effected in both of these chambers. In Fig. 12, however, which covers the last quarter of the minute, the valve 26 has become closed, and the bolting sleeves of the chamber 15 are being agitated to free the same of the powder which has accumulated thereon. The valve 27 being open, air is passing from the chamber-'16 to the outlet box 21, and separation of the powder from the air is continuing to be effected by the bolting sleeves of the chamber 16.

From the foregoing it will be seen that during each minute of the operation of the machine each of the valves 26 and 97 is open for a period of forty-five seconds and closed the remaining period of fifteen scccnds; that said valves are closed in alternation with each other, and never simultaneously closed. but that during the first and third quarters of the cycle the valves are both open, permitting free passage of the air from the respective bolting chambers through the an outlet box. and eifecting simultaneous separation of the powder in both chambers from the air as thelatter passes on to the fan 23. The air from the desiccating chamber 9 may always find an exit through one or the other of the bolting chambers, and during a por tion of each cycle of: moven'ient of the valves the air may pass through both of the bolting chambers simultaneously.

Certain of the described characteristics are of especial value and importance. At no time are all of the outlet valves closed. so that the flow of air through the desiccating chamber is never completely cut otf by said valves. Consequently there is no interruption in the continuity of the spraying and drying. The dry powder partly falls (livrectly and initially to the bottom of the (ltsiccating chamber; while the ren'iaindor is caught by the screening or bolting devices. The portion of the powder caught by the screens is shaken back into the desiccating chamber falling onto its bottom and is intermingled with that which is deposited directly in the desiccating chamber. The endless conveyer 64, travels across the desiccating chamber beneath the falling shower of powden which does not enter the collector thus insuring complete int-ermixture. The powder deposited onto the floor of the desiccating chamber is drawn along the floor to the trough 66, which is at the coolest part of the desiccating chamber, so that there is no burning of the powder at the place where it longest. remains before final discharge. All of the powder is removed from the desiccatingchamber through a single discharge outlet 68, in a thoroughly intermixed mass in which all of the ingredients are uniformly distributed. The collecting chambers are stationary so that the powder shaken from their contained screens or bolts falls d ircctly back into the desiccating chamber. ho current of air is flowing through a collecting chamber when the powder falls therethrough; Since the collecting chambers are stationary, the operating mechanism is simple and all parts requiring lubrication laden air current.

I claim 1. A desiccating and collecting apparatus comprising, in combination, a desiccating chamber; a plurality of collecting chambers in constant communication with the desiccating chamber; a valve independently controlling the outlet from each collecting chamber; means for causing a flow of air through said desiccating and collecting chambers; a screening or bolting device in each collecting chamber through which the air must pass to the outlet thereof; means for periodically closing the outlet valves from the collecting chambers but at different times so that the flow of air through the desicc'ating chamber is never completely cut ofl' by said valves; means for shaking each screening or bolting device when no air is flowing thcrelhrough whereby the collected powder is deposited withinthe dcsiccating chamber; means for mixing the powder collccted by the several screening or bolting devices with that which initially falls in the desiccating chamber; and a discharge outlet from the dcsiccating chamber for the intermixed powder.

2. A desiccating and collecting apparatus chamber: a collecting chamber in constant communication with the desiccatiug chamber: a valve controlling the outlet from the c llecting chamber; means for causing a How of air through said dcsiccating and collccting chambers: a screening or bolting device in the collecting chamber through which the air must pass to the outlet thereof; means for periodically closing the outlet valve from the collecting chamber;

are accessible and outside of the powder comprising, in combination, a dcsiecating.

means for shaking the screening or bolting device when no air is flowing therethrough whereby the collected powder is deposited within the desiccating chamber; means for mixing the powder collected by the screening or bolting device with that which initially falls in the desiccating chamber; and a discharge outlet from the desiccating chamber for the intermixed powder.

3. A desiccating and collecting appa atus having, in combination, a desiccating chamber; a powder collector communicating therewith from which the collected powder is deposited within the desiccating chamber; a traveling conveyer which carries across the desiccating chamber the powder which initially falls to the bottom of the desiccating chamber to intermix with the powder falling from the powder collector; and means for removing from the desiccating chamber the intermixed powder.

4. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a desiccating chamber; a powder collector communicating therewith from which the collected powder is deposited within the desiccating chamber; and means for commingling the powder from the collector with that which is deposit-ed directly in the desiccating chamber and for removing from the desiccating chamber the intermixed powder.

A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a desiccating chamber; a powder collector communicating.

therewith from which the collected powder is deposited within the desiccating chamber; means for commingling the powder from the collector with that which is deposited directly in the desiccating chamber.

6. A desiccating and collecting apparatus, having in combination, a desiccating chamber; a plurality of bolting chambers each of which is provided with an inlet and an outletfor air, said chambers being arranged in spaced relation, in combination with a diaphragm arranged between said chambers to provide laterally-disposed air chambers therebeneath in communication with the bolting chambers, and an air outlet chamber thereabove, said air chambers discharging into said air outlet chamber, means for controlling the discharge of the air into said outlet chamber and thereby interrupting the flow of the air through the bolting chambers, and bolting devices associated with said bolting chamber.

7. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a desiccating chamber; a plurality of bolting chambers each of which is provided with an inlet and an outlet for air, said chambers being arranged in spaced relation, in combination with a diaphragm arranged between said chambers to provide laterally-disposed air chambers therebeneath in communication with the bolting chambers, and an air outlet chamber thereabove, said air chambers discharging into said air outlet chamber, means for controlling the discharge of the air into said outlet chamber and thereby interrupting the low of the air through the bolting chambers, bolting devices associated with said bolting chambers, and means for removing the separated product from said bolting devices during the interruption of the air flow;

8. In combination with a desiccating chamber, a collector having an air inlet always connecting with the desic rating chamher, and also provided with an air outlet, a bolting device arranged between the air inlet and theair outlet, means for periodically interrupting the passage of air through the bolting device, means for removing the powder during such interruption.from the bolting device whereby it is deposited within the desiccating chamber, and means for removing the collected powder from the dos iccating chamber.

9. In combination with 'a' desiccating chamber, a collector having an air inlet always connecting with the desiccating chamber, and also provided with an air outlet, screens between the air inlet and the air outlet, means for periodically interrupting the passage of air through each screen while the air is permitted to pass through another of these screens, means for removing the powder from each screen while the passage of air therethrough is interrupted whereby the'powder is deposited within the desiccating chamber, and means for removing the collected powder from the desiccating chamber.

10. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a dcsiccating chamber, a collecting chamber communicating therewith and having a flexible screen therein discharging at its bottom, and a vibrating shaking ring acting upon said screen.

11. A desiccating and collecting apparatus comprising, in combination, a desiccating chamber; a plurality of collecting chambers in constant communication with the desiccating chamber, a valve independently controlling the outlet from each collecting chamber; means for causing a flow of air through said desiccating and collecting chambers; a screening or bolting device in each collecting chamber through which the air must pass to the outlet thereof; means for periodically closing the outlet valves from the collecting chambers but at diffcrent times so that the low of air through the desiccating chamber is never completely cut off by said valves.

12. A desiccating and collecting apparatus comprising in combination, a desiccating chamber; a plurality of collecting chamhers in constant communication with the desiccating chamber; a valve independently controlling the outlet from each collecting chamber; means for causing a flow of air through said desiccatinr' and collecting chambers; screening o ,olting device in each collecting chamber hrough which the air must pass to the outlet thereof; means for periodically closing the outlet valves from the collecting chambers but at'ditferent times so that the flow of air through the desiccating chamber is never completely cut oil by said valves; means for shaking each screening or bolting device when no air is flowing therethrough whereby the collected powder is deposited within the desiccating chamber.

13. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a desiccating chamber, a bolting chamber communicating therewith and having an outlet for air, a bolting device associated with the chamber, and means for interrupting the passage of air through said chamber.

14. A desiccating and collecting apparatus, having, in combination, a desiccating chamber; a powder collector communicating therewith from which the collected powder is deposited within the desiccating chamber.

15. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a desiccat-ing chamber; a powder collector communicating therewith from which the collected powder is deposited within the desiccating chamber and a traveling conveyer which carries across the desiccatin'g chamber.

16. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a desiccating chamber, a bolting chamber communicating therewith and having an air outlet, a bolting device associated with the chamber, and means for alternately opening and closing said air outlet.

17. A desiccating and collecting appara: tus having. in combination, a desiccating chamber, a bolting chamber communicating therewith and having an air outlet, a bolting device associated with the chamber, means for interrupting the passage of air through said chamber, and means for agitating the bolting device.

18. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a desiccating chamber, a collecting chamber provided with means of communication therewith and having a flexible screen therein discharging at its bottom, and means for agitating the screen.

19. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a desicmting chamber, a collecting chamber provided with means of communication therewith and having a flexible screen therein discharging at its bottom, into the desiccating chamber.

20. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a desiccating chamber, a powder collector communicating therewith, an air outlet leading from said chamber, and means for interrupting the passage of air through said chamber.

21. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a desiccating chamber, a plurality of bolting chambers, each of which is provided with means of communication with the desiccating chamber, an air outlet from each chamber, and means for alternately interrupting-the passage of air through said chamber.

22. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, a desiccating chamber, a plurality of bolting chambers each of which is provided with an inlet communicating with the desiccating chamber, and an outlet for air, bolting devices associated with said chambers, and means for interrupting the passage ofair through said chambers.

23. A desiccating and collecting apparatus having, in combination, means for disintegrating a liquid, means for subjecting it in its finely divided condition to the action of moisture-absorbing air, a desiccating chamber in which a portion of the product is collected, a collecting chamber having means of communication with the desiccating chamber and in which the remainder of the product is collected, and means for commingling the products separately collected in the respective chambers.

24. A process of desiccating organic liquids consisting in subjecting the liquid in a finely divided condition to the action of moisture-absorbing air, collecting a portion of the resulting powder within the desiccating chamber, collecting the remainder within a communicating chamber, and commingling the separately collected powder so that the product is of substantially unitary constitution.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 27 day of April 1911.

IRVING S. MERRELL.

Vitnesses HOWARD P. DENISON, E. F. -SPEARING. 

